Wagon



March 7, 1939. E, w AUS-11N 2,149,949V

23 49 Y 24 27 m *Y l 47 5/ 5/ 49 l INVENTOR. EL LSWORTH W. AUST/N BY g J ATTORNEY E. W. AUSTINl March 7, 1939.

WAGON Filed Marh 1e, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. H SWORTH WAZ/570V BY d@ A oRNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFI-lcs orto La Plant-Choate Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application March 16, 1936, Serial No. 68,987

19 Claims.

rnis invention relates to wagons andhas particula1 relation to operating, control and dump-` ing means for such'wagons.

' operated by a single jack.

In the transportation of large quantities of materials, it is desirable to employ large steel wagons capable of carrying tremendous loads and such wagons are usually equipped with -dump doors of one type or another for discharging the loads to unload the wagon. Wagons of the type here considered may be so large as to weigh empty nine or ten-tons and these wagons may be capable of carrying eighteen cubic yards of material weighing as much as twenty-ve tons. The operation of the dump doors of such a wagon, for practical considerations, is too difficult for manual operation. Furthermore, with such heavy loads it is dimcult for the towing tractor to hold the wagon back on descending a grade. I have therefore devised a simple means employing hy draulic ,jacks for opening andelosing the doors of a dump wagon and for applying brakes for such a wagon. 'Ihe wagon structure is itself a problem because of the enormous loads involved.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a new and improved wagon structure and it is furthermore another general object of my invention to provide new and improved controland operating means for such a wagon.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism of the above character which may be operated by only two hydraulic jacks and which may be readily controlled by the operator on the tractor.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved door opening and closing means.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for applying braking effort to such a vehicle by means of the same mechanism which is employed for controlling the dump doors.

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved braking means for a wagon.

Another object of my invention is to provide a door opening and closing structure which may be Another object of my invention is tov provide door opening and closing means and braking means, all of which may be controlled by a simple movement, forward or back. of a control mechanism. n Y

Another obiect of my invention is to provide a new and improved wagon structure.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specifications,

wherein is disclosed a 'single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall withinvthe scope of the appended claims,V without departing from the spirit of lthe inven- 5 tion.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a wagon constructed according to one embodiment of my invention and showing the ldumpdoors thereof in l0 closed position. l

Figure 2 is a rear view in perspective of the device shown in Figure 1 and illustrating the braking mechanism of the device, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective 15 of the other side of the wagon shown in Figure 1 and illustrates the dumping and dumping control mechanisms in greater detail, and shows the dump doors in the open position.

Referring now to th'e drawings there is shown 20 `at I0 generally a wagon box of substantially conv ventional shape. This wagon box is a built-up structure including side plates II and end plates I2 additionally braced by means of gussets I3 and channels Il. The box /III is supported by means 25 of a-built-up rectangular 'frame I6, the frame being extended at the rear thereof to provide a. platform I1 and being also extended at the front to provide a goose-neck tongue I8. Thetongue I8 is arched to permit the wheels II!V and 2I to 30,

pass below the tongue to permit turning the wagon in a short radius. The wheels I9 and 20 are mounted on an axle structure 2| which-is pivotally engaged to the outer lower end of the goose-neck tongue I8. The wagon is adapted to 35 be drawn by means of a tractor (not shown)` which is attached to the wagon by means of the drawbar 22'. v

The bottom, of the box or hopper Iii is open and the framework I6 is likewise open in order to 40 permit material to be discharged through the bottom of the wagon, in accordance with the usual practice in wagons ofA this type. 'Ihe bottom is adapted to be closed by means oi a pair of rectangular doors 2l and 24 which have hinged con- 45 nection with the side members of the frame I6,asI indicated at 26. The doors may be supported in a closed position, such as illustrated in Figures l and 2, to support the load of material in the wagon or may be permitted to drop to the open position shown in Figure 3 by means of mechanism hereinafter described, which is more particularly an embodiment of the present invention. vThe rear end of the wagon is supported by means of an arched axle structure which is of built-up construction employing plate members welded or otherwise secured together to form suitable box sections. The axle is really nothing more than a pair of legs 21 secured to the underside of the platform I1 and having stub axles 28 therein on which the wheels 28 and 3| are rotatably mounted. 'Ihe wheels I8 and 28, 28 and 3|, are preferably provided with the extremely large pneumatic tires here shown in order not onlyl to furnish broad rolling surfaces for the wagon but also to furnish resilient means for absorbing the shocks resulting from inequalities of the ground over which the wagon is drawn.

A pair of hydraulic jacks 32 and 33 are mounted one on each side of the wagon by means of brackets 34 in which the jacks are pivotally mounted and in such position that the rams 38 and 31 project downwardly. 'I'he lower ends of the rams 38 and 31 are provided with crossbars or yokes 38 and 38 which are pivotally engaged to the rams for motion about axes which are transverse to the rams andparallel to the longitudinal axis of the wagon.

-A pair of brackets 4I and 42 are secured to each of the doors 23 and 24 and when the doors are in an open position these brackets project outwardly and upwardly to a yposition beside the side frame -members I8 andbelow the yokes 38 and 38, in such position that when the rams are forced downwardly, the yokes 38 and 38 bear against the bracketsI 4I and 42 to push them downwardly and rotate the doors about the hinges-28 until they are in the closed position.

` Each of the yokes :e and as is provided withv a pair of upstanding ears 43 and 44. A pair of cross shafts 48 and 41 are provided at the front and rear of the wagon respectively and these cross shafts are pivotally engaged within suitable bracket members 48 which in turn are engaged to the frame members I8. The cross shafts are each provided with link or latch members 48 and these latch members have rollers 8| adapted to engage suitable channel-like ears 82 and 83 on each of the innercorners of the respective doors 23 and 24.

Each of the cross shafts 48 and 41 is provided with levers 84 and 88 on the ends of the shafts projecting beyond the side members of the frame .I8 and links 88 and 81 are pivotally engaged to the free ends of these levers. Cables 58 and 88 are secured to these links and are trained over respective pulleys 88 and 8| located on suitable brackets 82 and 483 which in turn are secured to the side members'of the frame i8. The free -ends of the cables" and 88 are engaged to the I thereby releasing the doors to permit discharge of the load from the wagon. The members 8| are merely spring members adapted to normally close the latches 48.

The jacks 32 and 83 are of course double-ended and fluid for operating them is introduced into the upper end vby means of conduits 84, 85, 88

vand 81, fluid under pressure being supplied by means of a hydraulic pump (not shown) on the tractor and controlled by means of a suitable valve mechanism (not shown) locatedifin a position near the operator of the`tractor. Fluid for driving the rams upwardly is furnished from' the pump on the tractor by means of conduits 88, 88, 1li and 1I.

It is apparent therefore that the operator on the tractor may at will introduce f luid under pressure into the upper ends of the cylinders 32 and 33 to close the doors or into the lower ends of the cylinders to withdraw the latches 48 to permit the doors to open and thus discharge the load.

It is also very desirable, by reason Vof the extreme weight of the wagon and load, that some means be provided to furnish a braking efi'ectv to prevent the wagon from overrunnlng the tractor when descending a grade and this result is secured by means of the mechanism I am about to describe. The pressure within the cylinders necessary for closing the doors is only on the order of 200 pounds per square inch. 'Ihe pump utilized for operating the door closing and tripping mechanism is capable of pressures of 500 to 700 pounds per square inch. In order to operate a braking mechanism hereinafter described, I provide a continuation of the conduits 88, as indicated at 12, leading to a pressure valve 13 located at the rear of the platform above the platform I1. This pressure valve requires pressures in the neighborhood of 500 pounds per square inch in order to open the valve, but when the valve is opened the fluid under high pressure is admitted to a conduit 14 which leads to the lower end of a hydraulic jack 15 pivotally mounted upon the platform I1. 'I'he fluid under high pressure within the jack 18 drives the ram 18 upwardly and inwardly and this ram is pivotally engaged to lever arms 11 on a rotatably mounted cross-shaft 18. The consequent rotation of the shaft 18 pulls upwardly on the pull rods 18 and 8l which in turn rotate brake shafts 83 and 84 to operate brake mechanisms (not shown) within the wheels 28 and 3i to retard the wagon. When the pressure within the conduit 12 ls reduced to a pressure substantially below4 500 pounds, the valve within the housing 13 closes and the fluid within the jack 15 and conduit 14 passes through a low pressure relief valve 88 and is returned into, and through the line 12 to the pump. The

springs 81 and 88 are so secured to the memberm.

21 and levers on the ends of the cross-shafts 18 as to -pull the pull rods 18 and 8l downwardly to assist to release the brakes.

It is apparent, therefore, that the operator can not only close the doors'and release them for dumping the load but that he may also, by applying excess pressure when the doors are in closed position, apply braking eifect to the wheels. Although a preferred embodiment of my in# vention has been here shown. it is apparent that other modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made fwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wagon having doors adapted for open;

ing and closing and latch means for.holding tbe doors in closed position, a pair of jacks and means operatively connecting the rams of the Jacks to the doors to permit them to be closed by the jacks and other means actuated by'the same jacks for unlatching the doors, a third jack connected to the rst named jacks, a braking mechanism operated by the last named jack, and control means whereby fluid from the line supplying the first named Jacks may be employed to apply the brakes on the wagon.

2. In a wagon, doors pivotally engaged to the wagon box for, opening and closing movement.

latches for holding the doors in closed position, la

braking mechanism for the wheels of the wagon,

jacks for closing ,the doors and operating the latching mechanism and for operating the braking mechanism, one supply line operatively connected to all of the jacks for operating the doors and the brakes, and another supply line connected to some of the jacks for unlatching the doors.

I 3. In a wagon, hydraulic door operating jacks for closing the doors and latching them in closed position, another hydraulic brake jack for applying brakes to the vehicle, and means connecting the door actuating jacks -with the brake jack whereby when fluid at pressures in excess of that required to operate the door jacks is introduced into the door jacks, the braking jack will also be operated.

4. In a wagon having doors adapted for opening and closing, latches for holding the doors in the closed position, a braking mechanism for the wheels of the wagon, hydraulic jacks for closing the doors and operating the braking mechanism, one supply line for feeding uid to the jacks to close the doors and to actuate the brakes, and another supply line for feeding uid to the jacks to disengage the latches and open the doors.

5. In a wagon having doors adapted for opening and closing movement, latching means for securing and holding the doors in the closed position, a braking mechanism for the wheels of the Wagon, a hydraulic jack system for operating the door and latching means and the brake systems comprising hydraulic Jacks and uid supply lines for feeding fluid to the jacks', the hydraulic systembeing designed to utilize the uid at one pressure range for operating the door and latch mechanisms and at another pressure range for actuating the braking mechanism.

6. In a wagon, doors pivotally engaged to the vwagon box for swinging .movement therewith,

latches for holding the doors in closed position, a braking system for the wheels 4of the wagon, hydraulic jacks mounted on either side of the wagon for actuating the doors and latches, a third jack mounted on the rear of the wagon for actuating the braking mechanism, a supply line for supplying iluid to al1 three jacks for closing the doors and actuating the brakes and another supply line for supplying uid to the jacks on either y side of the wagon to actuate the latches.

7. In a wagon having doors adapted for opening and closing and latches for holding the doors in the closed position, a braking mechanism for the wheels of the wagon, a hydraulic system for opening and closing the doors, and for operating the latches and brake mechanism, said system being adapted to use iluid in a single supply line under comparatively low pressure for closing the doors and under higher pressureV for operating the braking mechanism. K

8. In a dump wagon, a door pivotally connected to the wagon to dump the load, the door having extensions thereof, a jack engaged on the side of the wagon, means on the ram ofthe jack for engaging the extensions of the door, a latching means for holding the door in closed position,` and means operatively connecting the latching means and second jacks whereby when the first named' jack is in an extreme position excess hydrauli pressure will actuate the hydraulic braking system, the rst named jack being adapted to oper` ate in one range oi pressure and the second named Y means operatively connecting the jack with the latching means whereby the jack may be employed for unlatching the door, and a hydraulicly operated braking mechanism including a hydraulic jack, the jack having means for preventing the entrance of iluid thereto except at pressures higher than those used for closing the door, whereby the hydraulic braking mechanism is actuated only at higher pressures than the pressures used for closing the doors.

11. In a dump wagon, a hydraulic jack for actuating the door of the dump wagon, a second single acting jack having parallel hydraulic connection with one end of the first named jack, means vfor permitting the entrance of fluid into the second named jack at pressures materially vhigher than those used for operating the ilrst draulic means for actuating the door of the dump wagon, a hydraulic connection from the towing vvehicle to the door actuating means, and a hydraulic braking mechanism for the dump wagon having hydraulic connection with the door actuating meanslwhereby fluid supplied from the towing vehicle may be used successively for operating the doors and applying the brakes.

13. In a wagon having a door adapted for opening and closing, a latch means for holding the door in closed position, a hydraulic jack, an arm on the ram of the jack, an extension arm on the door located in the path of the armon the ram whereby the movement of the ram causes the arm of the ram to strike the arm on the door and close the door, and a pull system operatively engaged to the arm on the jack and to the latch whereby movement of the actuate the pull system and withdraw the latch.

14. In a wagon, av dump door at the bottom of the wagon and hinged to the side thereof, a hydraulic jack on the side of the wagon, an extension arm on the door, an arm on the ram of the jack, the arm on the door being located in the path of the, movement of the arm on the jack, latch means for holding the doorin closed position, and an operative connection between the latch means and the ram, whereby move- 'ment of the ram in one direction closes the door, and movement of the ram in the other direction withdraws the latch means.

15. In a dump wagon, a door at the bottom of the wagon, hingedly connected to the side thereof, a pair of arms secured to the door and extending beneath and beyond the side of the wagon, a hydraulic jack moimted on the side of the wagon, a yoke member mounted on the ram of the jack, the jack, yoke and armson the door being so arranged that downward movement of the ram closes the door, a. cross shaft' at the end of the wagon, latch means on the cross shaft, means on the door whereby the latch may hold the door in closed position, and a pull rope lextending from the yoke to the cross shalt for rotating the cross shaft on upward movement of the ram of the jack to withdraw the latch member.

16. In a dump wagon having a door for supporting and dumping the load, a hydraulic Jack. means on the door in the path of movement of the jack in one direction for closing the door. latch means for holding` the door in closed position, and other means connecting the Jack and the latch for dropping the door to dump the load on movement of the jack in the opposi direction.

1'1. In a. wagon having a door swung for opening and closing, a ram, a lever secured to the door and projecting into the path of the ram whereby motion ofthe ram in one direction will force the door closed, a latch for holding the door in closed position, and a lost motion linkage connecting the latch and the ram whereby extreme movement of the ram in a direction opposite to the door closing movement withdraws the Y latch to dump the load.

s 18. In a wagon having a door swungor opening and closing. a power means, a lever secured to thedoor and projecting into the pathk of movement of the pow'er means whereby motion of the power means in one direction will close the door, a latch for holding the door in closed position, and means projecting into the path of move-l ment of the power means when moving in the direction opposite to that used in closing the door.`

the last named means being operatively engaged to the latch, so that when the power means is moved. in the opposite direction it will strike the last named means and release the latch to permit the door to open. A

19.V In a wagon having a door swung for opening and closing, a hydraulic ram for closing the door, brakes for thee wagon, a hydraulic ram `for actuating the brakes. the ram for closing the door and the ram for operating the brakes being connected to the same pressure supply means but withthe brake operating ram arranged to require higher operating pressures than the door closing ram whereby the brakes will be actuated only when the door closing ram has reached the end of its stroke. y

' ELLSWORTH W. AUSTIN. 

